Based on tafseer by Dr. Israr Ahmed and Sheikh Noman Ali Khan.
This presentation was used on one of the Quran Circles organized by Islamic Circle of Australia and New Zealand.
Feel free to reuse and distribute.
UGC NET Paper 1 Mathematical Reasoning & Aptitude.pdf
iCAN Quran Circle - Surah Fatiha
1. iCAN QURAN CIRCLE
The basis of Quranic Philosophy of Hikmah – Al Fatiha
Facilitator: Muhammad Nabeel Musharraf – 4 August 2018
Islamic Circle of Australia and New Zealand
3. وسلم عليه هللا صلى ِهاَّلل ُولُسَر َالَق
ْرُقْلا ُّمُأِآنَيِههسالِانَثَمْلا ُعْب
ْرُقْلاَوُنآُيمِظَعْلا
Recited by every Muslim more than 8000 times each year
Recited more than 360,000 times till the age 60 (approx.)
Isn’t it then extremely important to understand this well?
Sahih Bukhari, Book 65, Hadith 4704
4.
5. 7 Ayahs
7 Layer of meanings
70 volumes can be filled with its
explanation
5th Revelation (1st full surah)
Sahaba used to love it so much that they
had numerous nick names for this:
Interesting Facts about Al-Fatiha
Fatihat-ul-Kitab, Umm-ul-Kitab, Umm-ul-Qur'an, Sab'-ul-Mathani, Al-Wafiyah, Al-Kafiyah, Ash-Shafiyah, Al-
Asas, As-Salat, and Al-Hamd.
6. Objectives
The beautiful connotations of this surah should
come to your mind every time you read it
Be able to appreciate the eloquence and aijaz of
Quran and be thankful to our Creator for making
us a Muslim
Increasing khushoo in Salah
Establish a closer connection with Allah swt
through Al-Fatiha which is a conversation with
Him
Establish a solid foundation for approaching the
study of Quran
7. Group activity
Group exercise at the end
Summary of the complete lecture
Please take notes of points that you
find to be interesting
Please try your best to implement
what you listen today
9. Relationship of Fatiha to the rest of the Quran
Call of Human
nature –
Al-Fatiha
Guidance from the
Rabb –
Al-Quran
َنِدْاهَيِقهتُمْلِل ىًدُه
10. َبَو ِِنْيَب َة ََلهصال ُتْمَسَق َاَلَعَت ُهاَّلل َالَقِْيَفْصِن يِدْبَع َْي
ََلأَس اَم يِدْبَعِلَو
ُدْبَعْلا َالَق اَذِإَفِمَلاَعْلا ِِّبَر ِهَِّلل ُدْمَْاْلَيْبَع ِنَدََِح َاَلَعَت ُهاَّلل َالَقيِد
َالَق اَذِإَوِميِحهرال ِنََْحهرالَأ َاَلَعَت ُهاَّلل َالَقيِدْبَع هيَلَع ََْث
َالَق اَذِإَوِنيِِّالد ِمْوَي ِكِالَمْبَع ِنَدهََم َالَقَع هََلِإ َضهوَف ًةهرَم َالَقَو يِديِدْب
َالَق اَذِإَفُيِعَتْسَن َكهَّيِإَو ُدُبْعَن َكهَّيِإ
َس اَم يِدْبَعِلَو يِدْبَع َْيَبَو ِِنْيَب اَذَه َالَقََلأ
َالَق اَذِإَفهلا َطاَرِص َيمِقَتْسُمْلا َطاَرِّ
ِالص َنِدْاهِْيَغ ْمِهْيَلَع َتْمَعَْنأ َينِذ
َيِِّالهضال ََلَو ْمِهْيَلَع ِوبُضْغَمْلاِل اَذَه َالَقََلأَس اَم يِدْبَعِلَو يِدْبَع
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 395
1
2
3
Allah’s praise
Between Allah and
His slave
Guidance for the
seeker
3 keys parts of the surah
13. What does Al-Hamd mean?
Praise Thanks
Who do we thank?
Who do we praise?
Do we also thank those who we praise?
Do we also praise those who we thank?
When we receive a
benefit from someone
When we really like
something even if no
personal benefit is there
ثناء شکر
14. What does Al-Hamd mean?
َْاْلُدْم
"There is nothing more real than what cannot be seen and there is nothing more certain than what cannot
be heard.“Confucius (D. 479 BC)
Who created these beautiful pieces of art? Who should be praised for these?
‘Al’ here means ‘all’
15. What does Al-Hamd mean?
َْاْلُدْم
All the best characteristics at the highest levels are His
ىََْسُْاْل ُاءََْْسْاْل ِهَِّللَو
‘Al’ here means ‘all’
ا َِنأ َةَمْكِْاْل َناَمْقُل اَنْيَآت ْدَقَلَوُكْشَي ْنَمَو ۚ ِهَِّلل ْرُكْشاَهَّنِإَف ْر
هنِإَف َرَفَك ْنَمَو ۖ ِهِسْفَنِل ُرُكْشَييدََِح حِِنَغ َهاَّلل
17. Most of duas taught to us start with
Alhamdolillah
َمهلَسَو ِهْيَلَع ُهاَّلل ىهلَص ِهاَّلل ُولُسَر َالَق:
"ِهِاشَرِف ََلِإ ىََوأ اَذِإ َالَق ْنَم:
، ِانَآوَو ِانَفَكيِذهلا ِهَِّلل ُدْمَْاْل
، ِانَقَسَو ِِنْمِعْطَأ يِذهلا ِهَِّلل ُدْمَْاْل
،َلَضْفَأَف هيَلَع هنَم يِذهلا ِهَِّلل ُدْمَْاْل
“ َنِم ِِنَيِ
ِّجَنُت ْنَأ َكِتهزِعِب َكُلَأَْسأ ِِّنِإ همُههلالهارنال
ْمِهِِّلُك ِقْلَْاْل ِدِامَََم ِعيِمَ
ِِب َهاَّلل َدََِح ْدَقَف
The Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid:
Whoever says when he goes to bed:
o “Praise be to Allah who sufficed me and gave me shelter;
o praise be to Allah who fed me and gave me drink;
o praise be to Allah who favored me generously.
o O Allah, I ask You by Your ‘Izza (Might or Honor) to
save me from the Hellfire.”
has indeed praised Allah with all forms of praise of the entire creation.”
اْلديث قمر:1937 الصحيحي على املستدرك
18. Nouns vs Verbs
Nouns: Not dependant on time;
Verbs: Past, present future
Nouns: No dependence on doer;
Verbs: Dependence on doers
19. What have we discussed so far about
Alhamdolillah
It contains the
meaning of
‘praise’ as well as
‘thanks’
1
All ‘praise’
belongs to Allah
swt
2
Allah’s praise is
independent of
time
3
It does not
depend on us
4
It is the best of
the ways for
expressing this
meaning
5
20. What does Rabb mean?
رب
Master Cherisher
The owner who can do whatever he
wishes with his property; Pharoah
used to consider himself Rabb; Slave
owners were also called Rabb
Sustainer; Nurturer (Words
‘Tarbiyyah’ and ‘Murrabi’ are
driven from this)
ِاتَقَدهصال ِِبْرُيَكِِّبَر ىََلِإ ْع ِجْار َالَق
(Quran 2:176)(Quran 12:50)
Prophet Yusuf said
22. What does Ar-Rahman and
Ar-Raheem mean?
Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem are
both deriven from 'ar-Rahmah'
(Mercy).
• Intense mercy
• Right now
• Taking care of immediate
needs
• Consistently merciful
• Taking care of future needs
Ar-Rahman
Ar-Raheem
24. Who do parents take care of their children?
There is Rahmah in pain too!
25. Fitrah
Aql
ِنيِِّالد ِمْوَي ِكِالَم
The concept of Aakhirah
It tells us what is right and what is wrong
This tells us that the judgements in this world are
never equivalent to the effort (a person who kills
thousands of people only dies once as a
punishment; Doers of good do not always get the
reward of their effort. There should be someone
who should be the Master there.
Aql and fitrah stop here. It is the divine guidance that explains us
these aspects in detail. We are dependant on that guidance. This is
what we are asking in the next verse.
28. What is the difference between..
I went to the school.
To the school, I went.
َنَكُدُبْع
َن َكهَّيِإُبْعُد
29. 4 out of 10 approach…
ًةهفاَك ِمْلِ
ِّالس ِِف اوُلُخْاد اوُنَآم َينِذهلا اَهَُّيأ ََّي
30. Worship Being a slave
(Linked to instruction and guidance)
IBADAH
31. IBADAH
From the word ABD [slave] – What is the difference between
slave and servant?
َسْنِْاْلَو هنِْاْل ُتْقَلَخ اَمَوِونُدُبْعَيِل هَلِإ
(“Being an abd but with utmost love” as defined by Imam Ibn Taymiyyah)
33. Two aspects of Tauheed
Fikri
(linked to Iman in Allah’s sifat)
Amali
(linked to our actions)
First three verses of Surah - Ibadah
- Ista’anah
34. Agreement with Allah Swt
ُدُبْعَن َكهَّيِإ
We worship you and will keep on worshipping
It is not just narrating the present. It is also a promise for the future.
35. What does this agreement require?
Struggle against:
- Self
- False beliefs and ignorance
- Evil systems
We accordingly seek Allah’s help
39. Man needs divine guidance..
Man-made laws will always be
biased
Man cannot determine by himself
what is right and what is wrong
Even a little deviation can result
in huge loss; history is replete
with such examples
Once man starts walking on the
straight path, there would be
difficulties
There would be temptations that
we will need to fight; So we
require Allah’s help to remain
steadfast and reach our
destination
In finding the path Staying on the path
40. Inspire us, guide us, and keep us firm on the straight path
َنِدْاه
َتْسُمْلا َطاَرِّ
ِالص َنِدْاهَيمِق
41. A beautiful aspect of Classical Arabic language
What is the difference between
ْنِم ُبُرْشَي
And
اَ
ِِب ُبُرْشَي
يِمْضَت
We seek your help and we will keep seeking it
42. What is Sirat
Long
Straight
Wide
Dangerous because it is long
It is not ‘sabeel’, it is not ‘tareeq’
43. What is Sirat al Mustaqeem
،اًيمِقَتْسُم اًطاَرِص ًَلَثَم ُهللا َبَرَض
ِانَورُس ِاطَرِ
ِّالص ََِتَبْنَج ىَلَعَو
،ةَهحتَفُم ابَوَْبأ اَمِهيِف
،اةَخْرُم ورُتُس ِابَوَْبْاْل ىَلَعَو
ُولُقَي ٍاعَد ِاطَرِ
ِّالص ِبََب ىَلَعَو:َأََّياوُلُخْاد ُهاسنال اَهُّي
ْعَت ََلَو اًيعََِج َطاَرِ
ِّالصُّجَو،او
، ِاطَرِ
ِّالص ِقْوَف ْنِم وُعْدَي ٍاعَدَو
ْيَش َحَتْفَي ْنَأ ُناَسْنِْاْل َادََرأ اَذِإَفَق ِابَوَْبْاْل َكْلِت ْنِم اًًئَال:
َف ْنِإ َكهنِإَف ُهْحَتْفَت ََل َكَْْيَوُهْجِلَت ُهَتْحَت
ُطاَرِ
ِّالصَف:ُم ََلْسِْاْل
ِانَورُّالسَو:ِهللا ُودُدُح
ِهللا ُمِراَََم ُةَهحتَفُمْلا ُابَوَْبْاْلَو
ِك ِاطَرِ
ِّالص ِسْأَر ىَلَع يِهاعدال َكِلَذَو،ِهللا ُابَت
ِهللا ُظِاعَو ِاطَرِ
ِّالص ِقْوَف ْنِم يِهاعدالَوِلْسُم ِِّلُك ِ ْلَق ِِفٍم
Allah has set an example of the straight path
On the two sides of this path are the walls
In those (walls), there open doors
And on those doors are the curtains [which can move]
There is a caller on the gate of the Sirat who heralds, 'O people! Stay on the path and do not
deviate from it.’
And a caller calls from above the path
When any person wants to open any of these doors; He says
'Woe unto you! Do not open it, for if you open it you will pass through.
So, the As-Sirat is Islam
The two walls are Allah's set limits
And the open doors are what has been prohibited
And the caller at the opening of the Sirat is the book of Allah
And the caller from the top is Allah’s caller [that lives] in the heart of every Muslim
47. What is the best form of help?
Food
Health
Job
Money
Long life
Off-springs
Good wife
Knowledge / skills
Plus Hidaya
Plus Hidaya
Plus Hidaya
Plus Hidaya
Plus Hidaya
Plus Hidaya
Plus Hidaya
Plus Hidaya
48. هضال ََلَو ْمِهْيَلَع ِوبُضْغَمْلا ِْيَغَيِِّال
Who know the right thing but did not
adhere to it (like those Jews who
knew that Prophet PBUH is the final
messenger but still did not accept
his Prophethood
Includes:
Hypocrites
Those who know the truth yet
misguide people
Those who know the truth but don’t
accept it
Those who have gone astray because
of lack of knowledge – sometimes
even thinking that they are doing
good,
Includes:
Those who have created innovations
in religion and consider them to be the
religion (e.g. the Rahbaniyyah of the
Christians) etc.
49. The miraculous balance of Al-Fatiha
• Number of verses on each side is balanced; Middle
verse is divided in two halves
• First half all for Allah; Second half all for man;
Middle verse is half for Allah and half for man
• First half in the context of ghaib – second half in the
context of present
• First half: sentence start with noun; second half
sentence begin with verbs; middle verses is a mixed
verse
• Internal balance in the first half: Balance between
Rahmah and Justice
• Internal balance between the second half: The
balanced straight path of those who are blessed and
not those who acquired the wrath of Allah swt
• The first part of the middle verse is the conclusion
of first three ayahs; The second part of middle ayah
is introduction to the second part of the surah
• In the first half, the remaining ayahs are the
explanation of sifat of Allah swt; In the second half,
the rest of the ayahs are explanation of ‘sirat ul
mustaqeem’
50. Group Activity
7 groups to be formed
Each group to explain one ayah
based on the discussions today (3
min for group discussion prior to
presentation)
Whoever does not recite Surah al-Fatihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid
Also, in Surah Hijr Verse 87
Construction of the word: Quran – Too much read, read right now, will not be read at some point in time
There would be something else coming on the same style of structure
280,000 times approx. in 45 years (for a sixty year man who started praying at the age of 15)
A 40 year man would have recited it more than 155,000 times
All the topics of Quran fit in to the ayah’s of Surah Al-Fatiha. That is why the prophet called it as the Quran (also in Surah Al-Hijr, Ayah 87)
Allah Almighty said:
I have divided prayer between myself and my servant into two halves, and my servant shall have what he has asked for.
When the servant says ‘all praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has praised me.
When he says ‘the Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted me.
When he says ‘the Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified me or My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me.
When he says ‘you alone we worship, you alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.
When he says ‘guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.”
More to come on this in the section on ‘Hidayat’ which has to aspects – Hidayat e Nazari and Hidayat e Amali
Hikmat ki Pehli Asas:
Hidayat e Nazari:
What I see is actually someone’s beauty
The help we receive is actually from someone (Allah swt has distributed 1 part of His Rahmah in people and kept the 99 parts with him)
The love that we receive is someone else’s
Hikmat ki Doosri asas:
Insan by nature knows what is right and what is wrong – that is why even Atheists do good things even though they are not expecting any rewards in the hereafter
- It is logical that good should be rewarded with good and bad should be rewarded with bad – this does not seem to happen in this world. Accordingly, the hereafter is necessary
Teesri Asas:
- If that is the One who is doing all this, the worship should be made pure for them
More to come on this in the section on ‘Hidayat’ which has to aspects – Hidayat e Nazari and Hidayat e Amali
Hikmat ki Pehli Asas:
Hidayat e Nazari:
What I see is actually someone’s beauty
The help we receive is actually from someone (Allah swt has distributed 1 part of His Rahmah in people and kept the 99 parts with him)
The love that we receive is someone else’s
Hikmat ki Doosri asas:
Insan by nature knows what is right and what is wrong – that is why even Atheists do good things even though they are not expecting any rewards in the hereafter
- It is logical that good should be rewarded with good and bad should be rewarded with bad – this does not seem to happen in this world. Accordingly, the hereafter is necessary
Teesri Asas:
- If that is the One who is doing all this, the worship should be made pure for them
The plural of Aalam is Awalim – Aaalamin carries a different connotation.
Allah is the Rabb of the times that have passed and the times that are to come.
Allah is the Rabb of all the humans, whereever they live.
Allah is not only the Rabb of humans but the Rabb of all things that we see around us.
He is the Rabb of even those things – micro and macro – that our eyes are unable to see.
Ge us Rabb of this world as well as the here-after.
He is the Rabb of the worlds inside our hearts.
Example of an accident – a child is found with dead mother. Our immediate mercy would ask us to adopt. But Raheemiyat fades away soon.
Ghazban: Extremely angry
Atshan: Extremely thirsty
Jau’an: Extremely hungry
Rahman: Created the world
Raheem: Sustaining that
Rahman: Mercy in this world
Raheem: Continued
The correct opinion is that both these aspects are there at the same time
Allah Almighty said:
I have divided prayer between myself and my servant into two halves, and my servant shall have what he has asked for.
When the servant says ‘all praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has praised me.
When he says ‘the Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted me.
When he says ‘the Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified me and my servant has submitted to me.
When he says ‘you alone we worship, you alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.
When he says ‘guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.”
Servant:
Time bound
Has the right to refuse work if it is not something that he is not hired for or paid for
He can leave his job if he wishes
Slave:
The slave can be asked for work irrespective of weather it is the day or night
Would do all tasks that his Rabb asks him to do
The slave is the property of his master
He cannot leave his work
According to the Arabic literature, when the object of the verb precedes its subject, in that language, the meaning of exclusiveness is understood, and, here, the word / iyyaka / 'Thou' has preceded the words / na'bud / 'we worship' and / nasta'in / 'we seek help' which indicates exclusiveness in which its result is the very Unity of Worship and Unity of Acts that were explained before.
Even in our own worship, we need His help for which we must ask Him. We may be involved in self-conceit, deviation, hypocrisy and similar things, which destroy our worshipping and servitude totally. Then, in all affairs and activities, our full attention should be exclusively on Allah, the Exalted.
In other words, this, in itself, is one of the stages of monotheism, a high stage of it, which is rendered into 'monotheism in speculation'. That is, one should always and in all circumstances, think of Allah only.
He should rely exclusively on Allah. He should fear nothing but Allah; and he should trust Allah only. He should see nothing save Allah; he should want nothing save Allah; and he should love none save Allah. As the Qur'an says: "Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body... ", (Surah Al-Ahzab, No.33, verse 4)
Servant:
Time bound
Has the right to refuse work if it is not something that he is not hired for or paid for
He can leave his job if he wishes
Slave:
The slave can be asked for work irrespective of weather it is the day or night
Would do all tasks that his Rabb asks him to do
The slave is the property of his master
He cannot leave his work
According to the Arabic literature, when the object of the verb precedes its subject, in that language, the meaning of exclusiveness is understood, and, here, the word / iyyaka / 'Thou' has preceded the words / na'bud / 'we worship' and / nasta'in / 'we seek help' which indicates exclusiveness in which its result is the very Unity of Worship and Unity of Acts that were explained before.
Even in our own worship, we need His help for which we must ask Him. We may be involved in self-conceit, deviation, hypocrisy and similar things, which destroy our worshipping and servitude totally. Then, in all affairs and activities, our full attention should be exclusively on Allah, the Exalted.
In other words, this, in itself, is one of the stages of monotheism, a high stage of it, which is rendered into 'monotheism in speculation'. That is, one should always and in all circumstances, think of Allah only.
He should rely exclusively on Allah. He should fear nothing but Allah; and he should trust Allah only. He should see nothing save Allah; he should want nothing save Allah; and he should love none save Allah. As the Qur'an says: "Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body... ", (Surah Al-Ahzab, No.33, verse 4)
The pronoun 'we', which is in the plural form, used in terms / na'bud / 'we worship’ and / nasta'in / 'we seek help’, and in the next verses, shows that worship, especially prayer, is based on 'plural' and community.
The servant must consider himself among the community even when he is standing in front of Allah for invocation, much less during his other daily activities.
Thus, from the point of view of the Qur'an, any individualism, solitariness, and the like are not accepted in Islam. Particularly, the ritual prayer, from the prayer call: / hayya ‘alas- salat / 'hasten to the prayer',which is an invitation to initiate prayer, to Surah Al-Hamd at the beginning of the prayer, and the term / assalamu alaykum.../ ‘peace be on you all...' at the end of the prayer, all are statements of verification to the concept that this worship basically has a social aspect; viz, it ought to be performed as a congregational prayer.
It is true that the prayer performed individually is also accepted in Islam, but personal worship is considered as the secondary degree.
Allah Almighty said:
I have divided prayer between myself and my servant into two halves, and my servant shall have what he has asked for.
When the servant says ‘all praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has praised me.
When he says ‘the Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted me.
When he says ‘the Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified me and my servant has submitted to me.
When he says ‘you alone we worship, you alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.
When he says ‘guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.”
Allah Almighty said:
I have divided prayer between myself and my servant into two halves, and my servant shall have what he has asked for.
When the servant says ‘all praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has praised me.
When he says ‘the Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted me.
When he says ‘the Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified me and my servant has submitted to me.
When he says ‘you alone we worship, you alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.
When he says ‘guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.”
Allah Almighty said:
I have divided prayer between myself and my servant into two halves, and my servant shall have what he has asked for.
When the servant says ‘all praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has praised me.
When he says ‘the Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted me.
When he says ‘the Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified me and my servant has submitted to me.
When he says ‘you alone we worship, you alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.
When he says ‘guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.”
Do your bit first, and then seek assistance from Allah swt.
Ibrahim A.S. was helped after he was thrown in fire. The angels came in badr after the 313, including the Prophet PBUH, came into the battlefield.
You have to do first.
Does it answer the question “Why does Allah doesn’t help me”.
Risk of falling – Allah’s men fear more
Hard as we go up – Sabr and Istiqamat is required
Joy at the end is great
As we rise above, our vision improves and we are able to see the reality of things
Should we walk alone or should we also have others
If some of us are tiring, we should have others to buck them up and encourage.
If a difficulty comes up, we should all be there to support each other,
Ask the graduates
Better understanding of the athar:
“If you see what I am seeing, you will laugh very less and weep a lot”
If Allah loves a people, then he afflicts them with trials. Whoever is patient has the reward of patience, and whoever is impatient has the fault of impatience.
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 23122, Grade: Sahih
Every group, methodology, and ideology will have some method or idea which it sees as the primary driver of Islamic reform for the individual and the community. Some groups oriented around Tasawwuf (self-improvement) will focus on spiritual purification. Others focused around societal change will focus on activism in the community - both social and political. Other organizations will focus on righteous deeds and worship. Yet others will focus on knowledge.
However we see that when Allah describes the people who have His Grace, they represent ALL of these various interests and agendas. They are according to Qur'an, 4:69:
-Nabiyeen/Prophets: The bearers of the Message of God, the deliverers of Knowledge from God to humanity, and the providers of the religious foundation for generation to come and all the groups that follow below.
-Siddiqeen/the Sincere and Truthful: Those whose hearts are purified and are sincere in their reverence for God and in their actions amongst people. Truthfulness emanates not only in their speech but in their actions, because their intentions are pure and for God alone.
-Shuhadaa/Witnesses: Those who actively strive to witness to the Truth under extraordinary circumstances, whether under threat of loss of life or wealth. They testify to Islam and call to goodness and benefit and may eventually find themselves giving all they have in order to defend innocent people and protect the lives of others.
-Saliheen/the Righteous: Those who dedicate extraordinary amounts of time to the doing of good deeds. Prayer, fasting, giving charity, visiting the sick, helping the orphan, remembering the name of God, reciting the Qur'an, and doing their utmost to have their limbs always in the worship of the Creator and in the service of His Creation.
It is amazing that in describing the people of the Straight path, the Qur'an mentions all of the various goals and methods - the seeking of knowledge, the purification of the soul, activism, and the doing of good deeds. Yet another testament to the fact that Islam is comprehensive, and calls for balance in the various priorities on the Straight path.
Allah Almighty said:
I have divided prayer between myself and my servant into two halves, and my servant shall have what he has asked for.
When the servant says ‘all praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has praised me.
When he says ‘the Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted me.
When he says ‘the Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified me and my servant has submitted to me.
When he says ‘you alone we worship, you alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.
When he says ‘guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.”